Hinge structure and casing using the same

ABSTRACT

A hinge structure and a casing using the same are provided. The hinge structure includes a first component and a second component. The first component includes a shaft and a connection member, wherein the shaft is fixed on the connection member. The second component includes a bushing and a limiting member, wherein the shaft is received in the bushing, the limiting member is disposed on the bushing, and the first component is detachably installed on the second component through the limiting member.

This application claims the benefit of People's Republic of Chinaapplication Serial No. 201810709241.1, filed Jul. 2, 2018, the subjectmatter of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention relates in general to a hinge structure, and moreparticularly to a hinge structure whose one component rotates withrespect to the other component and a casing using the same.

Description of the Related Art

Generally speaking, the hinge is commonly used for allowing one objectto rotate with respect to the other object. For example, the hinge isused in the casing of a portable computer, the casing of a computer hostor the door panel for providing an open/shut function to a display panelor a door panel. The current hinge structure is mainly formed of a shaftand two metal plates each having a bushing. The shaft and the two metalplates must be manufactured independently, not only incurring highmanufacturing cost, but also requiring more assembly and disassemblytime due to the shaft being mounted between the two bushings. Therefore,how to simplify the elements of the hinge structure and lower themanufacturing cost has become a prominent task for the industries.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a hinge structure formed of two components inwhich one component can rotate with respect to the other component.Since the shaft and one of the two components can be integrally formedin one piece, the element quantity of the hinge structure can be reducedand the manufacturing cost can be lowered.

According to one aspect of the invention, a hinge structure including afirst component and a second component is provided. The first componentincludes a shaft and a connection member, wherein the shaft is fixed onthe connection member. The second component includes a bushing and alimiting member, wherein the shaft is received in the bushing, thelimiting member is disposed on the bushing, and the first component isdetachably installed on the second component through the limitingmember.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the shaft can be ahollowed body.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the shaft can be winded uptogether with the connection member.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the bushing has a closeend and an open end opposite to the closed end.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the bushing has twoopposite close ends and a radial opening disposed therebetween, and theshaft is received in the bushing via the radial opening.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the limiting member andthe bushing are integrally formed in one piece, or the limiting memberis a movable tongue disposed on the bushing.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the connection memberincludes a slot opposite to the limiting member, wherein the limitingmember and the slot are separated from each other when the firstcomponent is at a first position, such that the first component and thesecond component are at a detachable state; the limiting member and theslot are coupled to each other when the first component moves to asecond position from the first position, such that the first componentand the second component are in a non-detachable state.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the connection memberincludes a slot opposite to the movable tongue, wherein the movabletongue and the slot are separated from each other when the movabletongue is at a first position, such that the first component and thesecond component are at a detachable state; the movable tongue and theslot are coupled to each other when the movable tongue moves to a secondposition from the first position, such that the first component and thesecond component are in a non-detachable state.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the hinge structurefurther includes at least one stopping member, wherein the stoppingmember and the first component interfere with each other when the shaftrotates to a pre-determined angle.

According to one aspect of the invention, a casing including a doorpanel and the hinge structure disposed on the door panel is provided.

The above and other aspects of the invention will become betterunderstood with regard to the following detailed description of thepreferred but non-limiting embodiment(s). The following description ismade with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an appearance diagram of a casing according to an embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 2A is an explosion diagram of a hinge structure according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2B is a combined diagram of a hinge structure and a door panelaccording to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2C is a schematic diagram of a hinge structure according to theinvention another embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of a hinge structure whose firstcomponent is at a first position.

FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram of a hinge structure whose firstcomponent is at a second position.

FIG. 3C is a schematic diagram of a hinge structure whose firstcomponent leans on a stopping member.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a limiting member disposed on thebushing being a movable tongue.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Detailed descriptions of the invention are disclosed below with a numberof embodiments. However, the disclosed embodiments are for explanatoryand exemplary purposes only, not for limiting the scope of protection ofthe invention. Similar/identical designations are used to indicatesimilar/identical elements.

Refer to FIG. 1. The hinge structure 102 according to an embodiment ofthe invention can be used in a casing 100, such as the casing of acomputer host, a server host or other products. The hinge structure 102can be installed on the door panel 101 to provide an open/shut functionto the door panel 101.

The quantity of the hinge structure 102 can be two. The two hingestructures 102 are respectively disposed at the top left corner and thebottom left corner of the door panel 101 for enabling the door panel 101to rotate around the shaft 112 of respective hinge structure 102, butthe invention is not limited thereto. The quantity of the hingestructure 102 can be one or more than one. In the following diagrams,the hinge structure 102 is disposed at the top left corner for anexemplary purpose. Similar arrangements are applicable to the hingestructure 102 at the bottom left corner, and the similarities are notrepeated here.

Refer to FIGS. 2A and 2B. The hinge structure 102 includes a firstcomponent 110 and a second component 120. The first component 110 isinstalled at the top left corner of the door panel 101, and the secondcomponent 120 is installed at a fixing region (for example, the outersurface of the casing 100) corresponding to the top left corner of thedoor panel 101. The first component 110 includes a shaft 112 and aconnection member 114, and the shaft 112 is fixed on the connectionmember 114. Besides, the second component 120 includes a bushing 122 anda limiting member 124, wherein the shaft 112 is received in the bushing122, the limiting member 124 is disposed on the bushing 122, the shaft112 has a rotational freedom, and the first component 110 can bedetachably installed on the second component 120 through the limitingmember 124.

Refer to FIG. 2A and 2B. The first component 110 can be a metal plateformed by a metal stamping step, a winding step, a cutting step and aforming step. The shaft 112 can be realized by a hollowed body to reducethe weight. In an embodiment, the shaft 112 can be a crimping piece,which crimps together with the connection member 114, to reduce themanufacturing cost. Meanwhile, the shaft 112 and the connection member114 are integrally formed in one piece to reduce the element quantity ofthe hinge structure 102. In an embodiment, the connection member 114 canbe fixed on the door panel 101 using multiple locking pieces. Thus, theconnection member 114 can be used as a fixing piece of the door panel101.

Moreover, the second component 120 can be another metal plate formed bya metal stamping step, a winding step, a cutting step and a formingstep. The bushing 122 can be formed by a hollowed body. The bushing 122has a close end E1 and an open end E2 disposed oppositely. The shaft 112of the first component 110 can be received in the bushing 122 via theopen end E2. The shaft 112 can lean on the close end E1. The close endE1 supports the first component 110 and the door panel 101. Meanwhile,the shaft 112 can move away from the bushing 122 via the open end E2,such that the first component 110 and the second component 120 areseparated from each other. Refer to FIG. 2C. In an embodiment, the openend E2 can be covered by a metal plate 125 to form a close end E3,therefore the shaft 112 can only rotate in the bushing 122 and cannotgenerate an axial displacement in the bushing 122. The metal plate 125can be an independent kit or can be integrally formed in one piece withthe bushing 122. When the metal plate 125 and the bushing 122 areintegrally formed in one piece, the shaft 112 of the first component 110can be installed on the bushing 122 as the movable tongue 124′ of FIG. 4is opened.

Refer to FIGS. 2A and 2B. The limiting member 124 can be a tongueintegrally formed on the bushing 122 in one piece. The tongue and thearced surface of the bushing 122 are interconnected. The tongue and thebushing 122 partially cover the surrounding of the shaft 112 (that is, anon-closed coverage). Thus, the bushing 122 of the present embodimentcan be formed by a non-closed bushing 122, which reserves a radialopening 123 allowing the first component 110 and the second component120 to be nested together, wherein the radial opening 123 isinterconnected with the open end E2 and extends to the close end E1 fromthe open end E2 along the axial direction of the bushing 122. Therefore,when the shaft 112 of the first component 110 moves towards the bushing122 via the open end E2, the first component 110 still can be nestedwith the second component 120 via the radial opening 123.

Refer to FIGS. 3A and 3B. FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of a hingestructure 102 whose first component 110 is at a first position. FIG. 3Bis a schematic diagram of a hinge structure 102 whose first component110 is at a second position. In the present embodiment, the connectionmember 114 includes a slot 116 opposite to the limiting member 124 ofthe second component 120. After the first component 110 and the secondcomponent 120 are nested together, the first component 110 can rotatewith respect to the second component 120 and move to the second positionfrom the first position (that is, rotate for the first angle θ1), andmake the limiting member 124 and the slot 116 be coupled together.

The door panel 101 is not opened at the first position. Meanwhile, therotation angle of the shaft 112 is 0°. When the first component 110moves to the second position from the first position, the door panel 101is opened, and the rotation angle of the shaft 112 (that is, the firstangle θ1) is between 30°-45°, the limiting member 124 and the slot 116approach towards each other and become coupled.

When the limiting member 124 and the slot 116 are coupled together, thelimiting member 124 and the slot 116 interfere with each other on theaxial direction of the shaft 112. Since the positions of the firstcomponent 110 and the second component 120 are limited, the shaft 112can only rotate (has the rotational freedom only) and cannot make axialdisplacement.

Refer to FIG. 3A. The limiting member 124 and the slot 116 are separatedfrom each other when the first component 110 is at a first position,such that the first component 110 and the second component 120 are at adetachable state. That is, the first component 110 and the secondcomponent 120 do not interfere with each other on the assembly direction(for example, the axial direction of the shaft 112). Refer to FIG. 3B.The limiting member 124 and the slot 116 are coupled when the firstcomponent 110 moves to a second position from the first position, suchthat the first component 110 and the second component 120 are in anon-detachable state. That is, the first component 110 and the secondcomponent 120 interfere with each other on the assembly direction (forexample, the axial direction of the shaft 112). By changing the position(or the rotation angle) of the first component 110, the first component110 can be installed in the hinge structure 102 of the presentembodiment, such that the assembly process of the shaft 112 can besimplified and the installation of the shaft 112 can be made easier.

Referring to FIG. 3C, a schematic diagram of a hinge structure 102 whosefirst component 110 leans on a stopping member 126 is shown. In thepresent embodiment, the hinge structure 102 may further include at leastone stopping member 126 disposed on two opposite sides of the limitingmember 124. The distance between the stopping member 126 and theconnection member 114 is relatively larger than that between thelimiting member 124 and the connection member 114. When the limitingmember 124 and the slot 116 of the connection member 114 are coupledtogether, a distance is formed between the stopping member 126 and theconnection member 114, and the first component 110 will not stoprotating until the stopping member 126 and the connection member 114lean on each other. Thus, the hinge structure 102 of the presentembodiment can control the rotation angle of the shaft 112 through thestopping member 126 and can make the shaft 112 stop when rotating to apre-determined angle (that is, the second angle θ2), such as an angle of90° or above.

In other embodiments, the position of the stopping member 126 isadjustable, and the arrangement of the stopping member 126 is notlimited to above exemplifications. For example, the stopping member 126can also be disposed on the first component 110. When the shaft 112rotates to a pre-determined angle, the stopping member 126 is stopped bythe second component 120 and stops, such that the rotation angle of theshaft 112 can be controlled. Or, the stopping member 126 can be made byany independent element generating interference with the first component110. When the shaft 112 rotates to a pre-determined angle, the firstcomponent 110 is limited by the stopping member 126 and stops, such thatthe rotation angle of the shaft 112 can be controlled.

In the above embodiments, it is exemplified that a tongue is integrallyformed on the bushing 122 in one piece. In another embodiment, thelimiting member disposed on the bushing 122 can also be made by amovable tongue 124′. Refer to FIG. 4. The movable tongue 124′ can beslidably or rotatably disposed on the bushing 122, and the movabletongue 124′ and the slot 116 are disposed oppositely.

The arrangement of the movable tongue 124′ is similar to the arrangementof changing the position of the first component 110 as disclosed inabove embodiment except for the matching element. The movable tongue124′ and the slot 116 can be separated from each other when the movabletongue 124′ is at a first position (for example, rotates to open orslide off), such that the first component 110 and the second component120 are at a detachable state. That is, the first component 110 and thesecond component 120 do not interfere with each on the assemblydirection (for example, the axial direction of the shaft 112). Or, themovable tongue 124′ and the slot 116 are coupled when the movable tongue124′ moves to a second position from the first position (for example,rotate to shut or slide in), such that the first component 110 and thesecond component 120 are in a non-detachable state. That is, the firstcomponent 110 and the second component 120 interfere with each other onthe assembly direction (for example, the axial direction of the shaft112). By changing the position of the movable tongue 124′, the firstcomponent 110 can be installed in the hinge structure 102 of the presentembodiment, such that the assembly process of the shaft 112 can besimplified and the installation of the shaft 112 can be made easier.

In an embodiment, the movable tongue 124′ can be used in combinationwith an elastic element such as a spring, such that the movable tongue124′ normally remains at a shut state. That is, the movable tongue 124′and the slot 116 are normally coupled. When the shaft 112 needs to beinstalled or detached, the movable tongue 124′ moves to an open state.

In an embodiment, when the movable tongue 124′ is disposed on thebushing 122, the shaft 112 of the first component 110 can be received inthe bushing 122 directly instead of passing through the open end E2.That is, the shaft 112 is received in the bushing 122 via the radialopening 123 formed by the opened movable tongue 124′. Since the bushing122 can be the bushing with the two closed ends E1 and the hollowedshaft 112 can lean on the two close ends E1 of the bushing 122 andbecome limited, the hollowed shaft 112 can only rotate (only has therotational freedom) and cannot make axial displacement.

The hinge structure disclosed in above embodiments of the invention canbe installed on a door panel to provide an open/shut function to thedoor panel. Since the hinge structure is formed of two components andthe shaft can be integrally formed in one piece with one of the twocomponents, the element quantity of the hinge structure can be reducedand the manufacturing cost can be lowered. Besides, since the open endof the shaft of the hinge structure disclosed in above embodiments ofthe invention can be received in the bushing via the open end or theradial opening of the bushing, the installation process of the shaft canbe simplified and the installation of the shaft can be made easier.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms ofthe preferred embodiment(s), it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover variousmodifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope ofthe appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadestinterpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similararrangements and procedures.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hinge structure, comprising: a first component,comprising a shaft and a connection member, wherein the shaft is fixedon the connection member; and a second component, comprising a bushingand a limiting member, wherein the shaft is received in the bushing, thelimiting member is disposed on the bushing, and the first component isdetachably installed on the second component through the limitingmember.
 2. The hinge structure according to claim 1, wherein the shaftis a hollowed body.
 3. The hinge structure according to claim 1, whereinthe shaft and the connection member are winded up together.
 4. The hingestructure according to claim 1, wherein the bushing has a close end andan open end opposite to the close end.
 5. The hinge structure accordingto claim 1, wherein the bushing has two close ends and a radial openingdisposed between the two close end, and the shaft is received in thebushing via the radial opening.
 6. The hinge structure according toclaim 1, wherein the limiting member and the bushing are integrallyformed in one piece, and the limiting member and the bushing partiallycover and surround the shaft.
 7. The hinge structure according to claim1, wherein the connection member comprises a slot opposite to thelimiting member, the limiting member and the slot are separated fromeach other when the first component is at a first position, such thatthe first component and the second component are at a detachable state;the limiting member and the slot are coupled to each other when thefirst component moves to a second position from the first position, suchthat the first component and the second component are in anon-detachable state.
 8. The hinge structure according to claim 1,wherein the limiting member is a movable tongue disposed on the bushing,the connection member comprises a slot opposite to the movable tongue,the movable tongue and the slot are separated from each other when themovable tongue is at a first position, such that the first component andthe second component are at a detachable state; the movable tongue andthe slot are coupled to each other when the movable tongue moves to asecond position from the first position, such that the first componentand the second component are in a non-detachable state.
 9. The hingestructure according to claim 1, further comprising at least one stoppingmember, wherein the stopping member and the first component interferewith each other when the shaft rotates to a pre-determined angle.
 10. Acasing, comprising: a door panel; and the hinge structure according toclaim 1, is disposed on the door panel.